Motorcyclist dies in Grape Road crash

His passenger, two people in car also injured.

His passenger, two people in car also injured.

May 06, 2008|By TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA Â? A man died and a woman was thrown 115 feet after the motorcycle they were on crashed into a car on Grape Road Tuesday night, police said. The motorcycle involved in the crash and two other motorcycles were reportedly going south in the 4600 block of Grape Road about 8 p.m. when one of the bikes crashed into a Saturn turning left from the Outback Steakhouse parking lot to go north on Grape.

The driver of the motorcycle, a 21-year-old South Bend man, died at the scene, Mishawaka police Capt. Tim Spencer said. The female passenger was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Their identities were not released as of press deadline.

The male driver of the Saturn and his female passenger also were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, Spencer said. They both complained of head pain.

The motorcycles perhaps were traveling Â?in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed,Â? Spencer said of what witnesses told police. It is unclear how fast they were going.

The drivers of the other two motorcycles fled the scene. Â?We want to talk to them,Â? Spencer said.

The driver of the Saturn told police he did not see the motorcycles.

Hundreds of people filed out of Grape Road businesses and watched as police worked the scene. All four lanes of Grape between Day Road and Edison Lakes Parkway were closed for more than two hours.

Andrew Teeter was in the Outback parking lot when he heard engines revving. He saw the motorcycle go 20 feet in the air, he said.